Chapter 174: Hot and Sour Noodles

After returning from Wu Na's house, Zhang Fan hurried straight to Egg Baby's room, and upon seeing Egg Baby he couldn't bear to look away.

Ba Ke Er felt both helpless and happy; helpless because, as a grown adult, he still didn't have an egg, yet the unborn Egg Baby was attractive; and what made him happiest was that Zhang Fan no longer mentioned going out.

Time quickly passed, and soon it was time to cook. Zhang Fan rubbed his stomach, which had started growling "gugu", looked up at Ba Ke Er, and wore an embarrassed expression.

Ba Ke Er rubbed Zhang Fan's head, indulgingly saying, "Hungry? Fan Fan, what do you want to eat today? I'll go make it for you right now!"

Zhang Fan lowered his head, thought for a moment, then closed his eyes and said with a face full of memories, "I want to eat the hot and sour noodles made by the Dean Mother!"

"Um… Fan Fan, but… uh, the Dean Mother isn't here! How about… I'll cook it for you! But, I don't know how to make that hot and sour noodles, so… Fan Fan, could you tell me the steps?"

Ba Ke Er looked at Zhang Fan with a gentle expression, his eyes full of indulgence and affection.

Seeing this, Zhang Fan happily nodded in agreement, then eagerly hugged the Dragon Egg and pulled Ba Ke Er along to the storage room.

After finding at least some ready-made sweet potato noodles, Zhang Fan also took some small colored peppers and Sichuan pepper from the pickle jar, and incidentally cut a small piece of beef jerky and took out a cow bone.

With the ingredients ready, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er then went to the kitchen and began the preparations.

Ba Ke Er was responsible for washing the pot and boiling water; after he poured the boiling water into the basin, Zhang Fan then put the prepared noodles in to soak.

At the same time, Zhang Fan lit the stove, added water and the cow bone to the pot, and began to simmer the bone broth.

Since soaking the noodles and simmering the bone broth both take some time, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er used this interval to start preparing the seasoning—the most crucial part of hot and sour noodles: the chili oil!

After Ba Ke Er scooped out the water from the pot, Zhang Fan fetched animal oil from the side; although vegetable oil would make a more perfect chili oil, on this primitive planet that only has animal oil, Zhang Fan had no choice.

After all, he truly didn't know how to extract vegetable oil, so he had to settle for second best and use the animal oil.

Zhang Fan waited until the oil in the pot was about sixty to seventy percent hot, then added the Sichuan pepper, fresh ginger, and similar seasonings; after the oil had fully absorbed their flavors, he scooped those seasonings out.

When the oil in the pot began to emit thick smoke, Zhang Fan then added the pre‑chopped small colored peppers and beef jerky, and stir‑fried them.

At this point, the whole kitchen was filled with a spicy aroma; for Ba Ke Er, whose nose is very sensitive, such an irritating smell was indeed a huge challenge!

But even so, Ba Ke Er did not say he wanted to leave the kitchen; instead he stood up, walked behind Zhang Fan, and softly said in his ear:

"Fan Fan, let me do it! This smell is too irritating—you go open the window first, then go rest a bit; I'll handle the rest!"

Given Ba Ke Er's demeanor, if Zhang Fan didn't know that chili really is irritating and that Ba Ke Er had told him to open the window to air it out, he might have thought Ba Ke Er's sense of smell had failed!

After handing the spatula in his hand to Ba Ke Er, Zhang Fan followed his suggestion, opened the kitchen window, then obediently left the kitchen and went to the main hall to wait for the meal.

After all, the kitchen smell was indeed irritating; hearing it too long would make one want to sneeze. Thinking this, Zhang Fan suddenly heard a loud sneeze coming from the kitchen.

"Ba Ke Er, how are you? Isn't it very irritating?"

Zhang Fan couldn't help but walk to the kitchen door, cover his nose, and say to Ba Ke Er, who was waving the spatula:

"Ah? It's fine, it's fine! Fan Fan, I'm okay—hurry up and go over there, don't let the smell get to you!"

While waving the spatula, Ba Ke Er also didn't forget to have Zhang Fan step back a bit, fearing that if he got too close he would be irritated by the smell.

"Well… then, I see the chili in the pot is about done—hurry up and lift the pot! I'll go check on Egg Baby first, and call me again after we've eaten."

Having said that, Zhang Fan turned and left the kitchen doorway, heading toward the secondary bedroom.

Ba Ke Er saw that Zhang Fan had already left, then took a large basin over and scooped all the chili oil from the pot into it.

The seasoning was already prepared; the next steps were simple, so Zhang Fan didn't need to teach him—Ba Ke Er could handle it himself!

Only see, Ba Ke Er washed the pot clean once more, then added fresh water again and began to boil it.

Once the water in the pot boiled, Ba Ke Er grabbed the pre‑soaked noodles and put them in to cook. At the same time he took out two large bowls; when the noodles were done, he used chopsticks and a ladle to scoop them into the bowls.

Then, using the large wooden spoon at hand, he ladled two big scoops of bone broth from the side pot into the bowls, and finally added the chili oil, soy sauce, and vinegar.

And just like that, two large bowls of chili‑oil hot and sour noodles were ready.

Ba Ke Er brought the hot and sour noodles into the main hall; just as he set the bowls down, Zhang Fan smelled the aroma and came out holding the Dragon Egg.

"Ba Ke Er, are the hot and sour noodles done? They smell so good! They're definitely delicious!"

Saying this, Zhang Fan had already sat at the table, picked up his chopsticks and was about to start eating. Ba Ke Er, seeing this, also sat down and stared intently at Zhang Fan's movements without blinking.

When Zhang Fan took his first bite, Ba Ke Er could not wait to ask.

"Fan Fan, how is it? Is it tasty? Will you find it spicy?"

Zhang Fan saw Ba Ke Er so nervous, smiled, and said: "It's delicious! Ba Ke Er, you really have talent! I think it's just right, I don't feel it's spicy—you also hurry up and try it!"

After saying that, Zhang Fan picked up a chopstickful of hot and sour noodles from his own bowl and fed it to Ba Ke Er.

Ba Ke Er hastily opened his mouth to receive it, saying, "Fan Fan, I also think it's just right, haha—you aren't hungry? Come, eat more! You're practically eating enough for several people by yourself!"

Saying that, Ba Ke Er took about half from his own bowl and put it into Zhang Fan's bowl, urging him to eat quickly while doing so.

This left Zhang Fan not knowing what to say, so he just silently accepted it.

After finishing the meal, Ba Ke Er again told Zhang Fan to go back to his room to rest, but this time Zhang Fan refused to compromise.

"Why are you telling me to rest again? I just finished eating—how can I just lie in bed? I should walk around and move a bit!"

Saying this, Zhang Fan disregarded Ba Ke Er's advice, threw on a coat, pushed open the courtyard gate, and walked out.

Seeing this, Ba Ke Er could no longer insist; he didn't even bother to put on an outer garment, directly put on a single layer and chased after him, calling out loudly as he went:

"Fan Fan, Fan Fan, wait for me!"

Upon hearing the voice coming from behind, Zhang Fan turned his head, took a look, and almost died of anxiety at Ba Ke Er's current appearance.

"Ba Ke Er! What are you doing? Even if you're healthy, you can't just go out wearing so little! Hurry back, put on your clothes properly, then come out! Do you understand?

Goodness, you're such a big person—how can you still be acting so recklessly!"

Upon hearing Zhang Fan's words, Ba Ke Er's face was full of black lines, his mouth twitching as he mentally muttered: Who exactly is being reckless? Wu…wu…wu…

But even so, Ba Ke Er remained the loyal dog, obediently following Zhang Fan's instructions, running back inside to put on a thick coat before coming out.

Zhang Fan saw Ba Ke Er bundled up thickly, his mood visibly improved, he walked forward smiling, adjusted Ba Ke Er's collar, and gently said, "All right! Let's go for a stroll—the afternoon sunshine is perfect, I don't want to waste it."

Saying that, Zhang Fan had already taken Ba Ke Er's hand and started walking forward. Ba Ke Er, behind Zhang Fan, watching their tightly clasped hands, wore an indulgent expression and decisively followed.

"Fan Fan, let's walk slowly, be careful—the road is slippery, don't fall."

Upon hearing Ba Ke Er's nagging reminder, Zhang Fan felt warm inside, but his mouth refused to yield, and he said with an arrogant pout, "Hmph! You're the most long‑winded! I'm not a little kid—just walking, could I possibly fall?"

Even so, Ba Ke Er could tell from Zhang Fan's unconscious slowing steps that Zhang Fan had truly taken his words to heart. So he stopped nagging and simply followed silently behind him, walking slowly.

Zhang Fan walked ahead leading the way, and without realizing it, he had already arrived at the Tribe Center Square. Looking at the children building snowmen on the square and the little cubs rolling in the snow, Zhang Fan unconsciously showed a smile.

Ba Ke Er saw this, and also smiled slightly.

At that moment, Nuoya, who was playing with her own little cubs, happened to see Zhang Fan, immediately put down her cubs, walked over and spoke to Zhang Fan.

"Fan Fan, you've come too! This afternoon's sunshine is really pleasant! You, being pregnant with cubs, ought to get out and walk more! Don't listen to those males, always keeping us cooped up at home, it's so boring! And it's also bad for the body."

When Zhang Fan heard Nuoya's words, especially when he heard him say that one should go out more and not stay cooped up at home, his eyes naturally fell on Ba Ke Er.

Nuoya noticed where Zhang Fan's eyes were looking, suddenly smiled, stepped forward and patted Zhang Fan's shoulder, saying: "Alright, you walk more. I'm going to check on my little ones now."

After saying that, Nuoya ran off as if her buttocks were on fire.

Only Zhang Fan, still standing there dazed, and Ba Ke Er with a guilty face remained.

Over the next while, the two walked two laps around the square, and still didn't see Nuoya and her two little male lions; then Zhang Fan finally understood.

It turned out Nuoya had also sneaked out! Just now she rushed off so urgently, probably because she suddenly remembered that Xiu Si's shift guarding the tribe gate was over, and he should be heading home. That's why she hurried back.

Of course, at this time Ba Ke Er also thought of these things, but he didn't say to let Zhang Fan go home immediately; instead he asked Zhang Fan's opinion, and decided the next plans based on Zhang Fan's idea.